Shoe having stabilizer

ABSTRACT

A stabilizer includes a midsole, and a counter placed in a rearfoot portion of the midsole, the counter including a counter body attached to a surface of the rearfoot portion of the upper, and at least one skirt extending downward from the counter body and covering, and attached to, a side surface of the rearfoot portion of the midsole on a medial side or a lateral side, the at least one skirt including a posterior end placed on the side surface or a back surface of the midsole, and an exposed portion where the skirt is absent and the midsole is exposed is provided in at least a portion in a circumferential direction of the back surface of the midsole.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a shoe having a stabilizer.

BACKGROUND ART

As stabilizers for the rearfoot, heel counters for stabilizing the heel when running or walking are well known in the art.

As stabilizers for the forefoot, roll-up structures for suppressing lateral shake in the medial or lateral direction of the forefoot when running or walking are well known in the art.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

First Patent Document: JP09-215501A (FIG. 6, FIG. 3)

Second Patent Document: JP10-108709A (Front page)

Third Patent Document: JP2002-262907A (Front page)

Fourth Patent Document: JP60-135003A (FIG. 5)

Fifth Patent Document: JP07-8304A (FIG. 1)

Sixth Patent Document: WO2013/168256A1 (Abstract)

Seventh Patent Document: H2003-9906A (FIG. 3)

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A stabilizer restrains the foot while suppressing the lateral shake. Therefore, it may deteriorate the wearability.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a shoe having a stabilizer capable of suppressing the lateral shake of the foot while preventing the wearability from deteriorating.

For example, JP60-135003A discloses a counter having a U-letter shape covering the side surface and the back surface of the rearfoot portion of the midsole. The counter will suppress the lateral shake of the rearfoot. However, the counter covering the side surface and the back surface of the rearfoot portion of the midsole will inhibit deformation of the midsole. Thus, it lowers the cushioning property of the rearfoot portion, and the wearer will be likely to feel a great impact on the first strike upon landing when running or walking.

For example, JP07-8304A discloses a raised portion of a hard reinforcement member of a non-foamed material. This raised portion will inhibit the lateral shake of the forefoot. However, the raised portion of the hard reinforcement member of a non-foamed material will significantly inhibit the flexion and deformation of the forefoot portion of the midsole. Therefore, the wearer may be likely to feel the resistance against flexion while running or walking.

In a first aspect of the present invention, a shoe includes an upper 7, and a stabilizer attached to at least a portion of the upper 7, wherein:

the stabilizer includes a midsole 1, and a counter 6 placed (arranged) in a rearfoot portion 5R of the midsole 1;

the counter 6 includes a counter body 60 attached to a surface of the rearfoot portion 5R of the upper, and at least one skirt 6M, 6L, extending downward from the counter body 60 and covering, and attached to, a side surface SF of the rearfoot portion 5R of the midsole 1 on a medial side ME and/or a lateral side LA; and

the at least one skirt 6M, 6L includes a posterior end 6E placed (arranged) on the side surface SF or a back surface BF of the midsole 1, and an exposed portion where the skirt 6M, 6L is absent (not arranged) and the midsole 1 is exposed is provided in at least a portion in a circumferential direction of the back surface BF of the midsole 1.

In the first aspect, the skirt seamlessly integral with the counter body increases the stiffness of the counter. The skirt is attached to the midsole to cover the side surface of the midsole, thereby suppressing the deformation of the midsole while further increasing the stiffness of the counter. Thus, on the medial side and/or the lateral side on which the skirt is provided, the rearfoot lateral shake suppressing function is improved significantly.

On the other hand, the exposed portion of the midsole back surface where the skirt is not attached can exert the intended cushioning property of the midsole. Therefore, the first strike impact occurring when the posterior end of the rearfoot lands while running or walking is absorbed by the posterior end of the midsole.

In the first aspect, “extending downward from the counter body 60” means that the skirt is formed seamlessly integral with the counter body.

Moreover, “placed on the side surface SF or a back surface BF” means that the posterior end is placed on side surfaces extending straight in the posterior direction, or on a back surface, or on corners between the medial and lateral side surfaces and the back surface.

The “back surface” means a central portion of the surface that can be seen from the back side that is about ⅓ the maximum width of the rearfoot portion of the midsole.

In the first aspect, it is only required that at least a portion of the back surface BF of the midsole 1 is exposed without being covered by the skirt, and the skirt may extend to the central area of the back surface, for example. This is because the first strike impact is often greater on the outside than on the central area of the rearfoot.

In a second aspect of the present invention, a shoe having a stabilizer, the shoe including an outsole 2 having a contact surface (tread surface) to be in contact with a road surface, and a midsole 1 placed on the outsole 2 and covering at least a portion of a forefoot section of a wearer;

the midsole 1 includes a main midsole 4 formed by a resin foam, and at least one sub-midsole 3M, 3L placed (arranged) on the main midsole 4 and formed by a resin foam;

a hardness of the at least one sub-midsole 3M, 3L is larger than a hardness of the main midsole 4; and

the at least one sub-midsole 3M, 3L includes a base 30 covering a bottom surface of a big toe B1 and/or a little toe B5 of the wearer on a medial side ME and/or a lateral side LA of a forefoot portion 5F, and two hard roll-up portions 31, 32 continuous with the base 30 and rolled up upward from the base 30 at positions which are on the medial side ME or the lateral side LA and which are spaced apart from each other in a front-rear direction.

In this second aspect, the sub-midsole harder than the main midsole 4 forms the two hard roll-up portion 31, 32 that are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction in the forefoot portion 5F. The two hard roll-up portions 31, 32 are less collapsible, and are capable of suppressing the lateral shake of the forefoot portion 5F over a wide area of the forefoot portion 5F that is divided in the front-rear direction.

The two hard roll-up portions 31, 32, which are relatively hard, are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction, and the side surfaces of the midsole 1 can easily bend between the two hard roll-up portions 31, 32. Particularly, the sub-midsole including two hard roll-up portions is formed from a foamed resin material, as opposed to a non-foamed hard resin material, and the base 30 and the two hard roll-up portions 31, 32 are therefore adequately bendable. Thus, the resistance against bending while running or walking is unlikely to be felt.

The texture of the foamed material gets fatigued after the flexible midsole 1 is bent repeatedly, and the stiffness weakens over time in the forefoot portion, resulting in deterioration. In contrast, a hard sub-midsole will suppress the stiffness deterioration.

In the present specification, the hardness difference between the main midsole and the sub-midsole in terms of C hardness is preferably about 3 degrees to about 25 degrees, and more preferably about 4 degrees to about 20 degrees. The advantageous effects are difficult to realize when the hardness difference is small. On the other hand, when the hardness difference is excessive, it is likely to be out of the practical range of hardness.

in view of the above, the hardness of the sub-midsole is set to about 59 degrees to 72 about degrees in terms of JIS C hardness, and more preferably about 61 degrees to about 69 degrees, for example.

On the other hand, the hardness of the main midsole is set to about 47 degrees to about 62 degrees in terms of JIS C hardness, and preferably about 49 degrees to about 57 degrees, for example.

Note that in the present specification, the C hardness means the value measured with a durometer of the JIS K 7312 C type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are a schematic medial side view and a schematic lateral side view, respectively, showing a shoe according to one embodiment of the present invention, wherein the upper and the outsole are denoted by two-dot-chain lines.

In these figures, high-hardness areas of the midsole are densely dotted, and low-hardness areas are coarsely dotted.

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are a back view and a perspective view, respectively, showing the rearfoot portion of the shoe.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the midsole and the counter as seen from an obliquely anterior direction.

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are a medial perspective view and a lateral perspective view, respectively, showing the stabilizer including the counter attached to the rearfoot portion of the midsole as seen from an obliquely posterior direction.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the rearfoot portion of the midsole and the counter.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the relationship of the midsole and the counter with the foot bone structure.

FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, FIG. 7C and FIG. 7D are cross-sectional views showing the sole and the counter taken alone lines shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B and FIG. 8C are cross-sectional views showing the sole and the counter taken alone lines shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the stabilizer of the forefoot portion of the midsole.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the same.

FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are a medial side view and a lateral side view, respectively, showing the shoe in a standstill position and a bent position. In these figures, the main midsole is dotted and hatched in the standstill position and in the bent position, respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the first aspect will now be described below.

In the first aspect, it is preferred that the at least one skirt 6M, 6L includes a wide portion 6W attached to the side surface SF of the rearfoot portion 5R of the midsole 1 on the medial side ME and/or the lateral side LA, and a first small width portion 61 on the side surface SF and/or the back surface BF of the midsole 1, the first small width portion 61 being continuous with the wide portion 6W and having a width H in a height direction, smaller than that (a width in the height direction) of the wide portion 6W, over which the midsole 1 is covered.

The width H in the height direction of the first small width portion 61 of the skirt is smaller than the width H in the height direction of the wide portion 6W. The first small width portion 61 having a small width H will realize the lateral shake suppressing function of the rearfoot and cushioning property of the posterior end of the rearfoot.

in the first aspect, it is more preferred that a lower-edge line 61L of the first small width portion 61 of the at least one skirt 6M, 6L extends in an obliquely posterior D2 and upward direction and on the side surface SF of the rearfoot portion 5R of the midsole 1 on the medial side ME and/or the lateral side LA and/or the back surface BF of the midsole 1.

in this case, since the width H of the first small width portion 61 decreases toward the back surface BF, the lateral shake suppressing function and the cushioning property of the rearfoot will change smoothly.

The first small width portion 61 is smoothly continuous with both the wide portion 6W and the counter body 60, and will serve to increase the stiffness of the wide portion 6W. This will improve the lateral shake suppressing function.

In the first aspect, it is more preferred that the at least one skirt 6M, 6L further includes a second small width portion 62 in an area extending in an anterior direction D1 from the wide portion 6W, the second small width portion 62 being continuous with the wide portion 6W and having a width H in the height direction, smaller than that (a width in the height direction) of the wide portion 6W, over which the midsole 1 is covered.

The width H in the height direction of the second small width portion 62 of the skirt is smaller than the width H in the height direction of the wide portion 6W. The second small width portion 62 having a small width H will realize the lateral shake suppressing function and the cushioning property in an area anterior to the wide portion 6W.

In the first aspect, it is more preferred that a lower-edge line 62L of the second small width portion 62 of the at least one skirt 6M, 6L extends toward an obliquely anterior D1 and upward direction on the side surface SF of the medial side ME and/or the lateral side LA.

In this case, since the width H of the second small width portion 62 decreases toward the anterior D1 direction, the lateral shake suppressing function and the cushioning property will change smoothly.

The second small width portion 62 is smoothly continuous with both the wide portion 6W and the counter body 60, and will serve to increase the stiffness of the wide portion 6W. This will improve the lateral shake suppressing function.

In the first aspect, it is preferred that the counter 6 further includes a flange 6F that is continuous with the counter body 60 and that projects from the counter body 60 toward a central area CE of the rearfoot portion 5R.

The flange 6F thus projecting toward the central area CE of the rearfoot portion 5R serves to support the sole of the foot.

The central area CE as used herein is a broader concept than “center”, and refers to a region that is between the medial side and the lateral side and between the posterior end of the middle foot portion and the posterior end of the rearfoot portion.

Note that the forefoot portion, the middle foot portion and the rearfoot portion refer to areas that cover the forefoot, the middle foot and the rearfoot, respectively, of the foot. The forefoot includes five metatarsal bones and fourteen phalanges. The middle foot includes a navicular bone, a cuboid bone and three cuneiform bones. The rearfoot is an area that is posterior to the middle foot.

In the first aspect, it is more preferred that the flange 6F is formed in a U-letter shape as seen from above (seen in a planar view).

The U-shaped flange 6F suppresses the deformation such that the two anterior ends of the counter 6 expand away from each other, thereby significantly increasing the stiffness of the counter 6. This significantly improves the lateral shake preventing function of the rearfoot.

The U-shaped flange 6F does not support the central area CE of the rearfoot, and will therefore not lower the cushioning property of the rearfoot portion.

In the first aspect, it is more preferred that a step portion 11, into which the flange 6F fits, is formed on an upper surface 1U of the midsole 1.

In this case, the flange 6F of the counter 6 fits into the step portion so that the flange 6F is smoothly continuous with the upper surface of the sole 1. Therefore, the flange 6F will not cause an awkward feel on the sole of the foot.

In the first aspect, it is preferred that the counter body 60 covers a rearfoot portion 5R of the upper extending from a medial side surface to a lateral side surface of the rearfoot portion of the upper through a back surface BF of the rearfoot portion of the upper, and is formed in a U-letter shape as seen from above (seen in a planar shape).

Such a U-shaped counter body 60 supports the rearfoot with the upper interposed therebetween, and therefore suppresses the lateral shake of the rearfoot.

In the first aspect, the skirt 6M, 6L may be provided at least on the medial side ME, of the medial side ME and the lateral side LA.

Such a skirt 6M on the medial side ME suppresses the compressive deformation of the midsole on the medial side of the rearfoot portion, thereby contributing to suppressing the overpronation.

Herein, “skirt being provided at least on the medial side ME” means that the skirt may cover a portion of the lateral side surface or the back surface.

The skirt may be provided only on the medial side, of the medial side and the lateral side. In this case, the skirt may be present on the back surface but is absent on the lateral side.

In the first aspect, the skirt may be provided at least on the lateral side LA, of the medial side ME and the lateral side LA.

Such a skirt 6L on the lateral side LA suppresses the compressive deformation of the midsole on the lateral side of the rearfoot portion, thereby contributing to suppressing the oversupination.

Herein, “skirt being provided at least on the lateral side LA” means that the skirt may cover a portion of the medial side surface or the back surface.

The skirt may be provided only on the lateral side, of the medial side and the lateral side. In this case, the skirt may be present on the back surface but is absent on the medial side.

In the first aspect, the skirt may be provided both on the medial side ME and on the lateral side LA.

Such medial and lateral the skirts 6M, a will serve to suppress both oversupination and overpronation.

In this case, the skirt may cover a portion of the back surface.

The area of the skirt on the medial side may be greater than that of the skirt on the lateral side. Alternatively, the area of the skirt on the lateral side may be greater than that of the skirt on the medial side. Alternatively, the two skirts may have about the same size.

Preferred embodiments of the second aspect will now be described below.

In the second aspect, it is preferred that the main midsole 4 defines a mating recess (concave) 43 into which the base 30 of the at least one sub-midsole 3M, 3L fits.

As the sub-midsole fits into such a mating recess 43, the sub-midsole and the hard roll-up portions 31, 32 are accurately positioned with respect to the main midsole 4.

In the second aspect, it is more preferred that the main midsole 4 further includes a soft roll-up portion 42 placed (arranged) between the two hard roll-up portions 31, 32, continuous with a base 40 of the main midsole 4, and rolled up from the base 40.

The soft roll-up portion 42 is placed between the hard roll-up portions 31, 32, which are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction, thereby reinforcing the area between the two hard roll-up portions 31, 32 where the lateral shake suppressing function is weak. Thus, the lateral shake suppressing function is further enhanced.

On the other hand, the soft roll-up portion 42 of the main midsole 4 has a lower hardness than the two hard roll-up portions 31, 32. This will suppress the drawback that the midsole becomes less bendable, and the resistance against bending is unlikely to be felt.

In the second aspect, it is preferred that the main midsole 4 includes a projecting (convex) portion 41 surrounded by the mating recess 43 and the soft roll-up portion 42 and continuous with the soft roll-up portion 42.

The main midsole 4 is placed under the base 30 of the sub-midsole, and therefore the portion thereof corresponding to the base 30 of the sub-midsole has a small thickness. When the soft roll-up portion 42 is rolled up from such a small-thickness portion, the soft roll-up portion 42 may become more collapsible, failing to realize a sufficient lateral shake preventing function.

In contrast, the projecting portion 41 continuous with the soft roll-up portion 42 suppresses the collapse of the soft roll-up portion 42, and therefore a high lateral shake preventing function can be expected.

In the second aspect, it is preferred that the at least one sub-midsole 3M, 3L defines a notch 33 where the at least one sub-midsole 3M, 3L is recessed (necked, constricted, or narrowed) at the projecting portion 41.

Such a notch 33 of the sub-midsole serves to help the midsole bend at the intended position.

In the second aspect, it is preferred that a sub-midsole 3L is provided at least on the lateral side LA, and the two hard roll-up portions 31, 32 are provided on the sub-midsole 3L of the lateral side LA.

The lateral shake of the forefoot, which is typically likely to occur on the lateral side of the foot, can be suppressed.

Note that the sub-midsole 3M having the two hard roll-up portions 31, 32 may be provided at least on the medial side ME.

In the second aspect, it is more preferred that an anterior end 31E of the anterior hard roll-up portion 31, of the two hard roll-up portions 31, 32, is placed anterior D1 to a ball O5 of the little toe (a little toe ball), and a posterior end 32E of the posterior hard roll-up portion 32, of the two hard roll-up portions, is placed posterior D2 to the ball O5 of the little toe.

The bending on the lateral side of the foot is typically significant in the vicinity of the ball O5 of the little toe, and therefore the midsole 1 bends significantly also in the vicinity of the ball O5 of the little toe. The aforementioned placement of the two hard roll-up portions 31, 32 on the lateral side LA will promote appropriate bending on the lateral side of the foot.

In the second aspect, it is preferred that the at least one the sub-midsole 3M, 3L includes a pair of sub-midsoles 3M, 3L, with one of the pair arranged on the medial side ME and the other of the pair arranged on the lateral side LA; and the pair of sub-midsoles 3M, 3L are both provided with the two hard roll-up portions 31, 32.

In this case, the lateral shake preventing function, etc., are improved on the medial side and on the lateral side of the forefoot.

In the second aspect, it is more preferred that the anterior end 31E of the anterior hard roll-up portion 31, of the two hard roll-up portions 31, 32 on the medial side, is placed (arranged) anterior D1 to a ball O1 of the big toe, and the posterior end 32E of the posterior D2 hard roll-up portion 32, of the two hard roll-up portions on the medial side, is placed posterior D2 to the ball O1 of the big toe; and

the anterior end 31E of the anterior D1 hard roll-up portion 31, of the two hard roll-up portions 31, 32 on the lateral side LA, is placed anterior D1 to the ball O5 of the little toe (the little toe ball), and the posterior end 32E of the posterior hard roll-up portion 32, of the two hard roll-up portions on the lateral side, is placed (arranged) posterior D2 to the ball O5 of the little toe.

The bending on the medial side and the lateral side of the foot, is typically significant in the vicinity of the ball O1 of the big toe and the ball O5 of the little toe, and therefore the midsole 1 bends significantly also in the vicinity of the ball O1 of the big toe and the ball O5 of the little toe. The aforementioned placement of the two hard roll-up portions 31, 32 on the medial side ME and on the lateral side LA will promote appropriate bending on the medial side and the lateral side of the foot.

In the second aspect, it is preferred that the at least one the sub-midsole 3M, 3L includes a pair of sub-midsoles 3M, 3L on the medial side ME and the lateral side LA; and

the pair of sub-midsoles 3M, 3L are spaced apart from each other, one on the medial side ME and the other on the lateral side LA.

In this case, the lateral shake preventing function, etc., are improved on the medial side and on the lateral side of the forefoot. Moreover, the pair of sub-midsoles are spaced apart from each other, one on the medial side and the other on the lateral side, thereby suppressing the problem of being less bendable even if the sub-midsoles have a high hardness.

Any feature illustrated and/or depicted in conjunction with one of the aforementioned aspects or the following embodiments may be used in the same or similar form in one or more of the other aspects or other embodiments, and/or may be used in combination with, or in place of any feature of the other aspects or embodiments.

EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be understood more clearly from the following description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Note however that the embodiments and the drawings are merely illustrative and should not be taken to define the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention shall be defined only by the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals denote like components throughout the plurality of figures.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

The present embodiment is directed to a shoe for trail running or walking, for example.

In FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the sole includes the outsole 2 having the tread surface to be in contact with the road surface, and the midsole 1 placed on the outsole 2.

Note that the upper 7 wrapping the instep of the foot is provided over the shoe sole.

As shown in FIG. 6, the midsole 1 covers the sole of the foot in the forefoot portion 5F, the middle foot portion 5M and the rearfoot portion 5R. The midsole 1 of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B includes the main midsole 4 and the sub-midsoles 3M, 3L, which are made of a resin-made foamed material such as EVA, for example. Note that “made of resin” means that a resin component such as a thermoplastic component is contained, and may include any other suitable component. The midsole 1 may be provided with a low-resilience material, a high-resilience material, a groove, etc.

The outsole 2 is a tread sole made of a rubber that has a higher abrasion resistance than the foamed material of the midsole 1 and typically has a higher hardness than the foamed material of the midsole 1. Note that “made of rubber” means that it contains a natural rubber component or a synthetic rubber component, and it may contain any other component.

The outsole 2 may have complicated projections/depressions as shown in FIG. 7A to FIG. 7D and FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C, but it is shown in a simple shape denoted by a tow-dot-chain line in other figures for the sake of illustration. Note that the envelope of the upper 7 is denoted by a two-dot-chain line as in FIG. 1A for ease of understanding of the invention.

A structure of the stabilizer of the rearfoot portion 5R will now be described.

The stabilizer of the rearfoot portion 5R is attached to at least a portion of the upper 7. The stabilizer includes the midsole 1, and he counter 6 placed in the rearfoot portion 5R of the midsole 1. The counter 6 has a shape and a structure that are generally symmetrical between the medial side and the lateral side, and includes the counter body 60 and the medial and lateral skirts 6M, 6L.

The counter body 60 is attached, by being bonded and/or welded, to the surface of the rearfoot portion 5R of the upper 7. As shown in FIG. 3, the counter body 60 covers the rearfoot portion 5R of the upper 7 (FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B) extending from the medial side surface to the lateral side surface through the back surface BF, and is formed in a U-letter shape as seen from above (see FIG. 6).

The counter 6 further includes the flange 6F that is integrally continuous with the counter body 60 and projects from the counter body 60 toward the central area CE of the rearfoot portion 5R. The flange 6F is formed in a continuous U-letter shape as seen from above as shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 5, the shallow first step portion 11, into which the flange 6F fits, is formed on the upper surface 1U of the midsole 1.

Next, an important portion of the stabilizer of the rearfoot will be described.

The medial and lateral skirts 6M, 6L of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B extends downward from the counter body 60. In the case of the present embodiment, the medial and lateral skirts 6M, 6L are provided on the medial side and on the lateral side, respectively, and the medial and lateral skirts 6M, 6L cover the side surfaces SF on the medial side ME and the lateral side LA of the rearfoot portion 5R of the midsole 1 of FIG. 5 and are attached, by being bonded and/or welded, to the side surfaces SF.

As shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 8B and FIG. 8C, a deep second step portion 12, into which the medial and lateral skirts 6M, 6L fit, is formed in the medial and lateral side surfaces SF and the upper surface 1U of the midsole 1. The skirt is attached to the side surface SF and the upper surface 1U of the midsole 1 in the area from the second step portion 12 to the first step portion 11.

As shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the medial and lateral skirts 6M, 6L include the posterior ends 6E placed in corner CO areas between the side surfaces SF and the back surface BF of the midsole 1. The back surface BF of the midsole 1 includes an exposed portion 10 where skirts 6M, 6L are absent.

That is, the cross-sectional shape of the back surface of the counter 6 has a “J”-letter shape as shown in the vertical cross-sectional view of FIG. 7A. On the other hand, the cross-sectional shape of the side surface of the counter 6 has a generally “Y”-letter shape or “T”-letter shape as shown in the horizontal cross-sectional view of FIG. 8B and FIG. 8C.

Note that as shown in FIG. 8B, FIG. 8C and FIG. 5, in the case of the present embodiment, the upper edge of the counter body 60 extends in an obliquely downward direction toward the anterior D1 direction. Thus, the torsional stiffness of the middle foot portion will be of an appropriate value.

The skirts 6M, 6L of FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B both include the wide portion 6W and the first and second small width portions 61, 62. The first or second small width portion 61, 62 extend in the posterior D2 direction or the anterior D1 from the wide portion 6W.

The wide portion 6W of each skirt 6M, 6L is attached to the side surface SF of the medial side ME or the lateral side LA of the rearfoot portion 5R of the midsole 1.

The first small width portion 61 is continuous with the wide portion 6W, and the width H in the height direction thereof covering the midsole 1 is smaller than that of the wide portion 6W in an area from the side surface SF to the back surface BF of the midsole 1. The lower-edge line 61L of the first small width portion 61 of each skirt 6M, 6L extends in an obliquely posterior D2 and upward direction from the side surface SF of the medial side ME or the lateral side LA of the rearfoot portion 5R of the midsole 1 to the back surface BF of the midsole 1.

The second small width portion 62 is continuous with the wide portion 6W, and the width H in the height direction thereof covering the midsole 1 is smaller than that of the wide portion 6W in an area extending from the wide portion 6W toward the anterior D1 direction. The lower-edge line 62L of the second small width portion 62 of each skirt 6M, 6L extends in an obliquely anterior D1 and upward direction in the side surface SF on the medial side ME or the lateral side 1A.

Next, the structure of the stabilizer of the forefoot portion 5F of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B will be described.

The midsole 1 includes the main midsole 4 formed from a foamed resin material, and the medial and lateral sub-midsoles 3M and 3L placed on the main midsole 4 and formed from a foamed resin material. The hardness of the sub-midsoles 3M, 3L is higher than the hardness of the main midsole 4.

Each sub-midsole 3M, 3L includes the base 30 and the two hard roll-up portions 31, 32 formed integral with the base 30 as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. On the medial side ME or the lateral side LA of the forefoot portion 5F, the base 30 of FIG. 6 covers the reverse surface of the hallux B1 or the little toe B5 of the wearer. The two hard roll-up portions 31, 32 of FIG. 10 are continuous with, and are rolled up from, the base 30 on the medial side ME and the lateral side LA and at positions that are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction.

The hard roll-up portions 31, 32 will serve to suppress the lateral shake of the forefoot.

The pair of sub-midsoles 3M, 3L shown in FIG. 9 may be spaced apart from each other, one on the medial side ME and the other on the lateral side LA. Thus, in the central portion on the medial side and the lateral side of the forefoot portion 5F, the main midsole 4 is exposed without being covered by the pair of sub-midsoles 3M, 3L. As shown in. FIG. 10, the main midsole 4 defines the mating recess 43, into which the base 30 of the pair of sub-midsoles 3M, 3L fits.

The main midsole 4 of FIG. 10 includes the soft roll-up portion 42 and the projecting portion 41. The soft roll-up portion 42 of FIG. 1 is placed between the two hard roll-up portions 31, 32 so as to divide the two hard roll-up portions 31, 32 from each other. The soft roll-up portion 42 of FIG. 10 is continuous with, and is rolled up from, the base 40 of the main midsole 4. The projecting portion 41 is surrounded by the mating recess 43 and the soft roll-up portion 42, and is continuous with the soft roll-up portion 42.

Each sub-midsole 3M, 3L defines the narrowed notch 33 that fits the projecting portion 41. The hard roll-up portions 31, 32 are absent in the notch 33.

Of the two hard roll-up portions 31, 32 on the medial side of FIG. 1A, the anterior end 31E of the anterior hard roll-up portion 31 is placed anterior D1 to the ball O1 of the big toe, and the posterior end 32E of the posterior D2 hard roll-up portion 32 is placed posterior D2 to the ball O1 of the big toe.

Of the two hard roll-up portions 31, 32 on the lateral side LA of FIG. 1B, the anterior end 31E of the anterior D1 hard roll-up portion 31 is placed anterior D1 to the ball O5 of the little toe, and the posterior end 32E of the posterior hard roll-up portion 32 is placed posterior D2 to the ball O5 of the little toe.

With such a placement, when the shoe sole bends as shown in FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B, the resistance against bending due to the hard roll-up portions 31, 32 is unlikely to be felt.

While preferred embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, various obvious changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the present specification.

For example, the stabilizer may be provided only in one of the forefoot portion and the rearfoot portion.

In the rearfoot portion, the skirt may be provided only on the medial or lateral side surface.

In the forefoot portion, the sub-midsole may be provided only on the medial side or on the lateral side.

The midsole of the foamed material ay be provided only in one of the forefoot portion and the rearfoot portion.

On the lateral side of the foot, the anterior end 31E of the anterior hard roll-up portion 31 and the posterior end 32E of the posterior hard roll-up portion 32 may both be placed posterior D2 to the ball O5 of the little toe. For example, on the lateral side of the foot, of the two hard roll-up portions 31, 32, the anterior end 31E of the anterior hard roll-up portion 31 may be placed posterior to the fifth metatarsal phalangeal (MP) joint or the posterior end 32E of the posterior hard roll-up portion 32 may be placed anterior to the Lisfranc joint of the fifth toe. Therefore, on the lateral side of the foot, of the two hard roll-up portions 31, 32, the anterior end 31E of the anterior hard roll-up portion 31 and the posterior end 32E of the posterior hard roll-up portion 32 may be placed anterior to the Lisfranc joint of the fifth toe.

Thus, such changes and modifications are deemed to fall within the scope of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is applicable to running shoes, walking shoes and shoes for daily use, as well as shoes for trail running, mountain climbing and cross country.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1: Midsole, 10: Exposed portion, 11: First step portion, 12: Second step portion, 1U: Upper surface

2: Outsole

3M, 3L: Sub-midsole

30: Base, 31, 32: Hard roll-up portion, 31E: Anterior end, 32E: Posterior end, 33: Notch

4: Main midsole

40: Base, 41: Projecting portion, 42: Soft roll-up portion, 43: Mating recess

5F: Forefoot portion, 5R: Rearfoot portion

6: Counter, 6M, 6L: Skirt, 6F: Flange, 6E: Posterior end, 6W: Wide portion

60: Counter body, 61: First small width portion, 62: Second small width portion, 61L, 62L: Lower-edge line

7: Upper

D1: Anterior, D2: Posterior, H: Width in height direction

ME: Medial, LA: Lateral, SF: Side surface, BF: Back surface

B1: Hallux, B5: Little toe

O1: Ball of big toe, O5: Ball of little toe

CE: Central area, CO: Corner, H: Width 

1. A shoe comprising an upper, and a stabilizer attached to at least a portion of the upper, wherein: the stabilizer includes a midsole, and a counter placed in a rearfoot portion of the midsole; the counter includes a counter body attached to a surface of the rearfoot portion of the upper, and at least one skirt, extending downward from the counter body and covering, and attached to, a side surface of the rearfoot portion of the midsole on a medial side and/or a lateral side; and the at least one skirt includes a posterior end placed on the side surface or a back surface of the midsole, and an exposed portion where the skirt is absent and the midsole is exposed is provided in at least a portion in a circumferential direction of the back surface of the midsole.
 2. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the at least one skirt includes a wide portion attached to the side surface of the rearfoot portion of the midsole on the medial side and/or the lateral side, and a first small width portion on the side surface and/or the back surface of the midsole, the first small width portion being continuous with the wide portion and having a width in a height direction, smaller than that of the wide portion, over which the midsole is covered.
 3. The shoe according to claim 2, wherein a lower-edge line of the first small width portion of the at least one skirt extends in an obliquely posterior and upward direction and on the side surface of the rearfoot portion of the midsole on the medial side and/or the lateral side and/or the back surface of the midsole.
 4. The shoe according to claim 2, wherein the at least one skirt further comprises a second small width portion in an area extending in an anterior direction from the wide portion, the second small width portion being continuous with the wide portion and having a width in the height direction, smaller than that of the wide portion, over which the midsole is covered.
 5. The shoe according to claim 4, wherein a lower-edge line of the second small width portion of the at least one skirt extends toward an obliquely anterior and upward direction on the side surface of the medial side and/or the lateral side.
 6. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the counter further includes a flange that is continuous with the counter body and that projects from the counter body toward a central area of the rearfoot portion.
 7. The shoe according to claim 6, wherein the flange is formed in a U-letter shape as seen from above.
 8. The shoe according to claim 6, wherein a step portion, into which the flange fits, is formed on an upper surface of the midsole.
 9. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the counter body covers the rearfoot portion of the upper extending from a medial side surface to a lateral side surface through a back surface, and is formed in a U-letter shape as seen from above.
 10. (canceled)
 11. (canceled)
 12. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the at least one skirt is provided both on the medial side and on the lateral side.
 13. A shoe having a stabilizer, the shoe comprising an outsole having a contact surface to be in contact with a road surface, and a midsole placed on the outsole and configured to cover_at least a portion of a forefoot section of a wearer; the midsole includes a main midsole formed by a resin foam, and at least one sub-midsole placed on the main midsole and formed by a resin foam; a hardness of the at least one sub-midsole is larger than a hardness of the main midsole; and the at least one sub-midsole includes a base configured to cover_a bottom surface of a big toe and/or a little toe of the wearer on a medial side and/or a lateral side of a forefoot portion, and two hard roll-up portions continuous with the base and rolled up upward from the base at positions which are on the medial side or the lateral side and which are spaced apart from each other in a front-rear direction.
 14. The shoe according to claim 13, wherein the main midsole defines a mating recess into which the base of the at least one sub-midsole fits.
 15. The shoe according to claim 14, wherein the main midsole further includes a soft roll-up portion placed between the two hard roll-up portions, continuous with a base of the main midsole, and rolled up from the base of the main midsole.
 16. The shoe according to claim 15, wherein the main midsole includes a projecting portion surrounded by the mating recess and the soft roll-up portion and continuous with the soft roll-up portion.
 17. The shoe according to claim 16, wherein the at least one sub-midsole defines a notch where the at least one sub-midsole is recessed at the projecting portion.
 18. The shoe according to claim 13, wherein a sub-midsole is provided at least on the lateral side, and the two hard roll-up portions are provided on the sub-midsole of the lateral side.
 19. The shoe according to claim 18, wherein an anterior end of an anterior hard roll-up portion, of the two hard roll-up portions, is configured to be placed anterior to a little toe ball, and a posterior end of a posterior hard roll-up portion, of the two hard roll-up portions, is configured to be placed posterior to the little toe ball.
 20. The shoe according to 13, wherein: the at least one the sub-midsole includes a pair of sub-midsoles on the medial side and the lateral side; and the pair of sub-midsoles are both provided with the two hard roll-up portions.
 21. The shoe according to claim 20, wherein: an anterior end of an anterior hard roll-up portion, of the two hard roll-up portions on the medial side, is configured to be placed anterior to a ball of the big toe, and a posterior end of a posterior hard roll-up portion, of the two hard roll-up portions on the medial side, is configured to be_placed posterior to the ball of the big toe; and an anterior end of an anterior hard roll-up portion, of the two hard roll-up portions on the lateral side, is configured to be placed anterior to a little toe ball, and a posterior end of a posterior hard roll-up portion, of the two hard roll-up portions on the lateral side, is configured to be_placed posterior to the little toe ball.
 22. The shoe according to claim 13, wherein: the at least one the sub-midsole includes a pair of sub-midsoles on the medial side and the lateral side; and the pair of sub-midsoles are spaced apart from each other, one on the medial side and the other on the lateral side. 